Characteristics of Dogo Argentinos

"They are more like a force of nature than a mere animal." So ends the original breed standard of the dogo Argentino, developed in the 1920s in Argentina by Dr. Antonio Nores Martinez. Dr. Martinez developed the breed from 10 different breeds, including the now extinct Cordoba fighting dog. While the creators of many breeds of dog kept their foundations secret, Dr. Martinez and his brother, Augustin, made a point of keeping notes and writing about their efforts, so this dog's history is thoroughly known.

  1. Physical Characteristics: The Breed Standard

    • The great Dane and the bulldog were among the ancestors of the dogo.

      The dogo Argentino is a large muscular dog with a short white coat. Though there will be skin pigment that shows through the fur in some spots, the dog should not have spotted fur. A black mark is allowed on the dog's head only, but the preference is for a pure white dog. The dogo has a strong skull and muzzle and an overall balanced appearance. The ears are cropped according to the original breed standard, but owners are now allowed to show their dogos with natural drop ears. The appearance is that of a strong, confident and courageous dog. Females are slightly smaller and have a feminine appearance without losing any of the breed's strength and balance. The height at the withers should be no less than 23.5 inches and no greater than 27 inches.

    Behavioral Characteristics

    • The pointer is another one of the 10 foundation breeds of the dogo.

      The true dogo can hunt large game, such as wild boar and puma, with ferocity and tenacity. It can, however, still play gently with children, tolerating much pestering. It likes people and is friendly, although it is protective around strangers. The dogo has an erroneous reputation in the United States of being highly aggressive to other animals and humans. Dr. Martinez developed the breed with hopes of stabilizing the temperament of the Cordoba fighting dog, a dog so dog-aggressive that it could not hunt large game in packs, as it was bred to do. The dogo is intelligent, loyal and loving, but it is dominant and must be socialized and trained well as a puppy. It is not a dog for a timid person who is unsure of leading the dog.

    Health Characteristics

    • The boxer, another of the 10 that contributed to the dogo's heritage.

      The dogo has relatively few known hereditary health problems. The hereditary deafness that can occur in all white dogs occurs in dogos at a rate of about 10 percent of all dogos being born deaf in one or both ears. Dogs should not be bred if they have any deafness. Another problem that is related to pigment is demodectic mange. Any breed can have demodectic mange, but white dogs are particularly prone. It is less likely a problem in well-cared-for dogos. Dogos also can have hip dysplasia, a joint problem common to most large breeds of dog.

    Considerations

    • The bull terrier contributed to the dogo gene pool, too.

      Prospective dogo owners must be particularly cautious about the breeder from whom they choose their dogo. Because of the reputation for aggression and the strong resemblance to the American pit bull terrier, some people try to breed for stronger aggressive tendencies or for dog fighting ability. A good breeder should be a member in good standing of the Dogo Argentino Club of America, meeting all of the club's member requirements. The club requires that all dogo puppies be sold with a veterinary certification that the pup can hear in each ear. Failure to provide such certification is a sure sign of a poor breeder.